DEMCO announced today that all thirteen DEMCO directors have completed or renewed director certifications through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). All have obtained the hallmark of Director Gold Certification.
“This speaks volumes of their commitment to the co-op and its members,” says Randy Pierce, CEO, and general manager. “Only nine of the nine-hundred electric co-ops in America can boast this achievement, and DEMCO is one of them.”
“All of DEMCO’s directors are committed to achieving the highest levels of certification and professional training for the benefit of the cooperative and the members they represent,” says DEMCO board president Danny Berthelot. “DEMCO directors are committed to continuing education opportunities that enable them to govern the cooperative more effectively and stay informed about industry changes.”
“Our board members take very seriously the duties they are entrusted with and their commitment to the co-op, its employees, and of course, the members they represent,” says Pierce.
Board directors receive education to provide them with a wide range of understanding in engineering, operations, management, politics, finance, technology, and communications. The Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) certificate and the Board Leadership Certificate lead to an opportunity for the ultimate certificate, which is the Director Gold Certificate. This final certification is a hallmark of a committed electric cooperative director, and DEMCO board directors have all achieved this level of education.
The first part of NRECA’s three-part Director Education Program consists of five courses focusing on basic governance knowledge and the essential skills required by cooperative directors. The Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) program prepares directors to fulfill their fiduciary duty as elected officials serving on behalf of their membership. After all five CCD courses are completed, directors are awarded the Cooperative Director Certificate by NRECA.
Next is the Board Leadership Program, which consists of courses focusing more on specific industry and governance issues. These include risk management, power supply, parliamentary procedure, technology, and policy development. The curriculum changes as crucial industry issues change. Upon completion of a total of ten credits, directors are awarded the Board Leadership Certificate (BLC).
Directors who have completed the CCD and BLC, plus three BLC credits, are eligible to earn Director Gold certification.
The Director Gold Certificate was created to recognize electric cooperative directors committed to continuing education and advancing their knowledge throughout their tenure on the board.
To maintain Director Gold certification, directors must earn at least three credits from approved continuing education courses within two years.
Photo Back Row L to R: Dennis Lott, Leslie Falks, Glenn DeLee, Kevin Beauchamp, Richard "Dickie" Sitman, Steve Irving, Randy Lorio, and Mike Anderson Front Row L to R: Jill McGraw, Melissa Milton Dufreche, Danny Berthelot, Elinda Taillon, and Tresa Byrd.
DEMCO powers 114,420+ meters that serve over half a million people in a seven-parish service area of Southeast Louisiana: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and West Feliciana.
